ABSTRACT
EPA AMBIENT WATER QUALITY CRITERIA OCT 80 THE DEMONSTRATED ABILITY OF ASBESTOS TO INDUCE MALIGNANT TUMORS IN DIFFERENT ANIMAL TISSUES, THE PASSAGE OF INGESTED FIBERS THROUGH THE GASTROINTESTINAL MUCOSA, AND THE EXTENSIVE HUMAN EVIDENCE FOR EXCESS PERITONEAL, GASTROINTESTINAL, AND OTHER EXTRAPULMONARY CANCER AS A RESULT OF ASBESTOS EXPOSURE SUGGESTS THAT ASBESTOS IS LIKELY TO BE A HUMAN CARCINOGEN WHEN INGESTED. WATER CONCENTRATIONS OF 300,000; 30,000 AND 3,000 FIBERS/LITER ARE ESTIMATED TO RESULT IN A RESPECTIVE 10 -5, 10 -6, AND 10 -7 INCREASE IN CANCER RISK OVER A LIFETIME.
